JPH11295048A - Image processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust lightness (whiteness index) of an image at the optimum time. SOLUTION: When an operation halt command of an inspecting apparatus is inputted (108: Y), and accumulation of working hour from the last time of the lightness adjustment exceeds a specified period (110: N), automatic adjustment 112 of brightness is performed. When the lightness is not adjusted and accumulation of working hour of the inspecting apparatus exceeds the specified period, it is informed to a user that adjustment of the lightness is necessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for capturing an image of an object under an illumination of an illumination device and processing an obtained image, for example, an inspection apparatus for determining whether a component mounted on a substrate is mounted or not. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Inspection of industrial products is performed by an inspection device using an image processing system. In this inspection apparatus, a printed circuit board (hereinafter, referred to as a component mounting board) on which electronic components, electric components, and the like are mounted is imaged by a CCD camera under illumination by a lighting device. The obtained image data is taken into an image processing device and subjected to a binarization process. Based on the binary image data, the quality of the mounting position of each electronic component, the state of soldering, and the like is determined.

[0003] In order to measure the mounting state with high accuracy, it is necessary to obtain good binary image data.
It is necessary to maintain image data taken into the image processing circuit at a constant brightness (whiteness) (white balance adjustment).

In the conventional inspection apparatus, the white balance is adjusted by taking an image of a white reference plate at the time of installation of the inspection apparatus, obtaining image data, and controlling the CCD camera so that the RGB chromaticity of the image data becomes a predetermined value. This has been done by adjusting the gain and the gain of the image processing circuit. After that, the light from the light source of the lighting device is detected by the sensor, and the brightness of the lighting by the lighting device is controlled based on the output of the sensor.

However, in such a conventional method, the accumulated illumination time becomes very long, and the light source of the illumination device,
When the sensor or the like deteriorates, the brightness of the illumination device changes due to the illumination, so that the adjustment made in the camera and the image processing circuit may not be meaningful.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of adjusting brightness while always taking into account aging of an illumination device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination device for illuminating an object, imaging means for imaging the object under illumination by the illumination device, and outputting a signal representing an image of the object, and a signal from the imaging means. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image processing means for processing an image represented; and an adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the image in at least one of the imaging means and the image processing means. Means for detecting an OFF command input, and when the power-off is detected by the detection means, the image of the reference target object is imaged by the imaging means so that the brightness of the image represented by the obtained signal becomes a predetermined value. And a control means for causing the adjusting means to perform the adjustment.

Preferably, the control means turns off the power only when the accumulation of the operation time of the image processing apparatus has reached a first predetermined time since the last time the brightness adjustment was performed by the adjustment means. The brightness is adjusted in response to the command detection.

According to the first aspect, the brightness is adjusted using the reference object when the power of the image processing apparatus is turned off. When the power is turned off after the operation of the image processing apparatus, the illumination device, the image pickup means and the image processing means are sufficiently stable. I can do it. Further, the brightness is automatically adjusted each time the power of the image processing apparatus is turned off, so that it is possible to cope with a long-term fluctuation without requiring the user. Further, since the adjustment is performed when the power is turned off, the operation of the image processing apparatus is not inadvertently interrupted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination device for illuminating an object, imaging means for imaging the object under illumination by the illumination device, and outputting a signal representing an image of the object, and a signal from the imaging means. In an image processing apparatus having an image processing means for processing an image represented and an adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the image in at least one of the image pickup means and the image processing means, Means for counting the cumulative operation time of the image processing apparatus from the time when the brightness adjustment is performed; means for determining whether the cumulative time counted by the clock means has reached a second predetermined time; When the determining means determines that the accumulated time has reached the second predetermined time, the apparatus includes means for notifying the necessity of brightness adjustment.

Since the user is notified that the brightness needs to be adjusted when a certain period of time has elapsed, the user can know that it is time to make the adjustment.

A third aspect of the present invention is a lighting device for illuminating an object, an image pickup means for picking up an image of the object under illumination by the lighting device and outputting a signal representing an image of the object, and a signal from the image pickup means. In an image processing apparatus having an image processing means for processing an image represented and an adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the image in at least one of the image pickup means and the image processing means, a command for brightness adjustment is inputted. Means for detecting the presence of an error, and when the detection means detects that a brightness adjustment command has been input (interrupting the operation if necessary), the imaging means causes the imaging means to image the reference object. And control means for causing the adjusting means to make an adjustment so that the brightness of the image represented by the obtained signal becomes a predetermined value.

The user can adjust the brightness by instructing brightness adjustment when notified by the second invention or voluntarily selecting a convenient time. This makes it possible to cope with long-term fluctuations without unintentionally interrupting the processing of the image processing apparatus.

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a mounted component inspection apparatus including an image processing apparatus.

The mounting component inspection apparatus includes an illumination device 11, a CCD camera 13 having a zoom lens 12, a processing device 14, and a computer (personal computer) 15.

The illuminating device 11 has a ring-shaped illuminant for generating red light, green light and blue light to illuminate an XY table (not shown). The substrate to be inspected is carried into the XY table. The XY table has a white reference plate
30 are provided to move forward and backward. The white reference plate 30 that has advanced to the substrate to be inspected or the XY table is illuminated by the three colors of light emitted from these light emitters.

The CCD camera 13 is located above the XY table, and is arranged downward so that the center of the image coincides with the center of the lighting device 11. Inspection board or white reference board
The reflected light from 30 is converted into three primary color signals R, G, B by the CCD camera 13 and supplied to the processing device 14. The CCD camera 13 is a camera that adjusts the gain of each of the color signals R, G, and B for white balance adjustment.
Includes a gain adjustment circuit. The zoom lens 12 is C
The imaging focus of the CD camera 13 is adjusted.

The processing unit 14 converts the color signals R, G, and B supplied from the CCD camera 13 into digital image data, extracts an image of the inspection area from the image data, and processes the extracted image to determine a feature amount. Then, the quality of the mounted state of the component on the board to be inspected is determined based on the feature amount. The processing device 14 also adjusts the whiteness (brightness) of the R, G, B image data as described below.

The processing device 14 includes a storage device. The storage device of the processing device 14 stores reference data used for adjusting the brightness of an image. In adjusting the brightness (adjusting the white balance), the white reference plate 30 advances on the XY table. This white reference plate 30 is a CCD camera
13 is imaged. The camera gain of the CCD camera 13 is set so that the chromaticity of each of the color signals R, G, and B of the image obtained by this imaging is, for example, 58 out of 64 tones based on the reference data. The gain is adjusted, and the gain in the processing device 14 is finely adjusted.

The computer 15 controls the entire mounted component inspection apparatus, and stores and analyzes the inspection results.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are flowcharts showing an inspection processing procedure including a brightness adjustment processing in the mounted component inspection apparatus. This adjustment processing is performed according to a program prepared in advance in the processing device 14 or the computer 15.

The power supply of the mounted component inspection apparatus is turned on, and warm-up is started (step 101). The inspection apparatus is provided with a timer (which may be realized by using a storage area of a memory) for measuring the timing of image brightness adjustment. After the warm-up, the operation of the timer is started (step 102).

The mounted component inspection apparatus maintains a standby state until an inspection start command is input (step 103, step 10).
NO at 4). When an inspection start command is input to the mounted component inspection apparatus by the user, the mounted component inspection apparatus carries the component mounting board onto an XY stage (not shown) below the lighting device 11 and starts inspecting the mounted state of the components. (YES in step 104, step 105).

When an inspection end command is input (step 10)
6), the mounted component inspection apparatus stops the inspection operation and maintains a standby state until a device operation end command is input (step 108).
No, step 107). When a device operation end command is input (YES in step 108), the timer stops counting and it is determined whether the count value has exceeded 12 hours (steps 109 and 110). If the count value is 12 hours or less, the brightness of the image is not adjusted, and the power of the mounted component inspection apparatus is turned off (YES in step 110,
Step 111). The count value of the timer is maintained even after the power is turned off. When the operation of the mounted component inspection apparatus is started again, time measurement is started from the count value held in the timer (step 102).

If the count value of the timer / counter exceeds 12 hours when the device operation end command is input (NO in step 110), the white reference plate 30 automatically advances on the XY table. Using the captured image data of the white reference plate 30, the adjustment of the image brightness by adjusting the camera gain of the CCD camera 13 and the gain of the processing device 14 is automatically performed (step 112). When the automatic adjustment ends, the timer is reset (step 113), and the power of the mounted component inspection device is turned off (step 111).

Since the brightness is automatically adjusted at the end of the operation of the mounted component inspection apparatus, the brightness can be adjusted while the lighting condition is stable. For example, when the brightness is adjusted at the start of operation (at the time of warm-up), the adjustment is performed under an unstable state of the lighting device 11 due to the fluctuation of the temperature, so that the adjustment is not performed accurately.

In the above-described example, the automatic adjustment of the brightness is performed if the count value of the timer exceeds 12 hours when the device operation end command is input, but is not limited to 12 hours, but may be any time. (For example, 10 hours, 30 hours, etc.) can be set, the brightness can be adjusted at any time when the power is turned off, and the continuous operation time is measured. It may be performed only when the time is longer than the time.

If the inspection end command is not input and the adjustment start command is input (NO in step 106, YES in step 115), the board inspection is temporarily interrupted (step 116) and the brightness of the image is reduced. The adjustment is performed (step 117). Even during the inspection, the brightness of the image is adjusted according to the user's will, so that the user does not feel reluctant to interrupt the inspection. When the brightness adjustment is completed, the timer is reset (step 118), and the board inspection is restarted (steps 119 and 105).

In a state where the inspection end command is not input and the adjustment start command is not input (NO in step 106)
(NO in step 115), the count value of the timer is checked as needed or periodically (step 120). If the count value is less than 100 hours, the board inspection continues to be performed (YES in step 121). If the counter value exceeds 100 hours, a warning lamp indicates that brightness adjustment is required,
The user is notified by a buzzer sound or the like (step 123
). This is effective in the case of a usage mode in which the mounting board inspection apparatus is continuously operated every day without being turned off. In response to the warning lamp and the warning buzzer, the user inputs an adjustment start command (step 115).
YES). This time of 100 hours can be set to any time.

Since the adjustment of the brightness of the image using the white reference plate 30 is performed at least at regular intervals (the above-mentioned 100 hours), it is possible to cope with long-term fluctuations of the lighting device 11. The automatic adjustment at the end of operation does not affect the inspection process.

In the above-mentioned example, 1) when the cumulative operation time from the previous time when the brightness adjustment was performed when the operation stop command of the inspection device is input exceeds a certain time, the brightness is not changed. Automatic adjustment is performed. 2) When the adjustment start command is input, the brightness is automatically adjusted. 3) If the cumulative operation time of the inspection apparatus exceeds a certain time without performing the brightness adjustment, the user is notified that the brightness needs to be adjusted. Of the three operations 1), 2) and 3), any one or two of the three operations may be performed by the inspection apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a mounted component inspection apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an inspection process including a brightness adjustment process in the mounted component inspection apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an inspection process including a brightness adjustment process in the mounted component inspection apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an inspection process including a brightness adjustment process in the mounted component inspection apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Lighting device 13 CCD camera 14 Processing device 15 Computer 30 White reference plate

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 7/18 H04N 7/18 B 9/04 9/04 B

Claims (4)

[Claims] An illumination device for illuminating an object, imaging means for imaging the object under illumination by the illumination device, outputting a signal representing an image of the object, and an image represented by a signal from the imaging means An image processing means for processing the image processing, and an adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the image in at least one of the imaging means and the image processing means. Detecting means, and when the power-off is detected by the detecting means, causing the imaging means to image a reference target object, and the adjusting means so that the brightness of an image represented by the obtained signal becomes a predetermined value. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit for causing a control unit to perform adjustment. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is turned off only when the cumulative operation time of the image processing apparatus has reached a first predetermined time since the previous brightness adjustment was performed by the adjustment device. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein brightness adjustment is performed in response to command detection. 3. An illuminating device for illuminating an object, an imaging unit for imaging an object under illumination by the illuminating device, and outputting a signal representing an image of the object, and an image represented by a signal from the imaging unit. In an image processing apparatus comprising: an image processing means for processing the image, and an adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the image in at least one of the imaging means and the image processing means. Means for counting the cumulative operation time of the image processing apparatus from the time of the execution, means for determining whether the cumulative time counted by the clock means has reached a second predetermined time, and the determination means An image processing apparatus comprising: means for notifying the necessity of brightness adjustment when it is determined that the accumulated time has reached a second predetermined time. 4. An illuminating device for illuminating an object, imaging means for imaging the object under illumination by the illuminating device and outputting a signal representing an image of the object, and an image represented by a signal from the imaging means A brightness adjustment command is input in an image processing apparatus provided with an image processing means for processing the image, and an adjustment means for adjusting the brightness of the image in at least one of the imaging means and the image processing means. Means for detecting a reference target object by the imaging means when it is detected that the brightness adjustment command has been input by the detection means, and the brightness of the image represented by the obtained signal is a predetermined value. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the adjustment unit to make an adjustment so as to obtain a value.